ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Joy overcomes two brain haemorrhages and a stroke to become
world powerlifting champion

Powerlifting champ Joy Fleming

A YOUNG woman from Glenavy has beaten all the odds to become World
Powerlifting Champion despite suffering from two brain haemorrhages and
a stroke. 20-year-old Joy Fleming, a former European Powerlifting Champ,
learned to walk and talk again three years ago before going on to gain
the coveted title.

Joy, whose ambition was always was to become a world champion
sportsperson, got interested in the sport - with the help of her uncle -
when she was a student at Hunterhouse College. When she took up
powerlifting she discovered that not only was she good at it, she really
loved it.

In 2008 she was the reigning European Champion for her weight (63kg)
and was due to represent Northern Ireland at the World Championships in
Indianapolis. However her dreams were shattered while playing hockey.
One day, without any warning, she collapsed on the pitch.

`You are not brave or any way special, you just get on with things.'

She was psyched up after scoring a goal five minutes into the second
half when her legs gave way and she fainted.

When she was taken to hospital and doctors discovered she had
suffered a brain haemorrhage and said they would have to operate.

During the operation on her brain she took another haemorrhage which
led to a stroke. Joy's distraught parents feared she may not survive.

She was diagnosed with AVM or Arteriovenus Malformation, an abnormal
connection between veins and arteries which is usually congenital, and
was told she would have to decide between open brain surgery or
radiosurgery which would be done in Sheffield. She chose the latter.

Before her journey she had to learn how to walk and talk again, but
she was given further devastating news - she would never be able to
Powerlift again.

With incredible determination Joy learned to walk and talk again and
in 2009 was fit enough to travel to Sheffield for radiosurgery.

She was given hope too when she was told she would be able to
powerlift again - news that was to be a turning point in her life.

Joy, while returning to training as a powerlifter, decided to make a
fresh start and enrolled at South Eastern Regional College (SERC) on a
two year BTEC National Diploma in Sport.

She finished her first year with a straight distinction profile and
passed her course with the highest possible results - the equivalent to
three grade A's at A-level. During which she also passed her driving
test. Her next step is to go onto university - even though her next
ambition is to become a fire-fighter and help save people's lives.

After missing out on the World Championships in the USA in 2008, Joy
also went back to powerlifting.

Within two years she was back on top of her game - she qualified for
the 2010 World Championships which were held in Castleblaney in November
- and came away with the title of 'World Champion' for her weight class.
Joy who had been training for a year and a half at Bear Cave gym in
Belfast said that it was the ultimate thing to win. She explained: "No
matter what people told me I was determined that I would powerlift again
one day.

"When I first got out of hospital I was so embarrassed because I was
put on a zimmer frame. I said I wouldn't use it - my granda was using
one for goodness sake. I only used it for a few weeks when I really had
to before I got onto the crutches and eventually got myself better, "You
are not brave or any way special, you just get on with things. When
anyone asks how did I got through my surgery I just say 'what else was I
expected to do?

"There were times that I got very frustrated with myself. At the time
of my illness I could have been going to the power lifting world
championship in America and instead I was barely able to walk up the
stairs.

"When I was told I would not power lift again I was upset at first
but I had it in the back of my mind once I got better again I would
power lift. My first aim was to get better and stronger but I knew that
I would power lift again."